Number of conceal carry permits issued in Boone County quadruples over six years

The Boone County Sheriff’s Department said the total number of newly issued and renewed conceal carry permits has increased so far in 2013.

The Boone County Sheriff’s Department said the data from 2013 suggests the total number of conceal carry permits may continue to increase. According to the data, from January to March, law enforcement agencies in Boone County, Hallsville, and Ashland issued 788 conceal carry permits. Last year, they issued 1,770 conceal carry permits total. Chief Deputy Major Tom Reddin from the Boone County Sheriff’s Department said the department does not analyze why more people want to carry a concealed firearm in Missouri when issuing permits.

“That’s not part of the information that we need to be asking when they apply," Reddin said. "That’s not part of their criminal background check or anything like that. So, we just don’t poll people about their reasons for wanting one.”

Recently, firearms instructor Jim Hill at Target Masters in Columbia said he has noticed more Boone Country residents enrolling in the store’s shooting class to qualify for a concealed weapon permit. He said most people take the class because they want to protect family members and they remain uncertain about the future of gun legislation.

“It used to be we might be a month ahead on filling a class," Hill said. "Now we run two to three months full, already filled up to where we have to keep pushing dates. I got the June class full now.”

Hill said he expects the number of concealed weapon holders to continue increasing this year.